Mixed signals about cell phone use in classrooms

By Jay Carroll Staff Writer At the beginning of each school year, students go to their classes for the first time to meet their new teachers and receive a syllabus. At this time, students are told each teacher’s cell phone policy – some lackadaisical and others extremely strict. Cell phones are a part of students’ lives. If you walk through the halls each passing period, you will see students navigating seas of people while trying to text friends or look at a social media site. I am guilty of doing the same. When a teacher bans use of phones in that class for the whole year, they are inviting students to try to use their…

Academy biology classes take the classroom outside

By Chase Porter Staff Writer Today, February 28th, Ms. Richardson’s classes are taking their learning outside of the classroom. While walking through the halls I couldn’t help but notice a large group of freshmen walking down the halls with nets and buckets. Obviously a strange sight for a school, I asked Ms. Richardson, their teacher, what was going on. “Well since we are learning about microorganisms we are going out to the creek in front of the student parking lot to gather up protists.” Richardson said. “Once they gather the organisms they will have to identify six different protists through a microscope.” Seeing this freshman Academy Biology class going outside to apply what they’ve learned…

Distractions during the school day

By Chase Porter Staff Writer While analyzing a normal school of mine I realize that I am distracted from what I am actually supposed to be doing the majority of the time. Just think fellow classmates, what really distracts you while your at school? What do I consider to be the biggest distraction during my school day you ask? I’d have to say its definitely my phone. I never thought I’d say this but my phone is almost apart of me now and I’m sure that’s true for almost everyone with a smart phone. These phones aren’t just great for playing games, such as Fruit Ninja, my personal favorite, but with the incorporation of group…

Racism in the classroom

Kimberly Del Angel Staff Writer One word, three syllables, thousands of implications: racism. How can it be right under our noses and why do we often do nothing about it? Many students see and experience racism daily, with it going overlooked or unacknowledged most of the time. The reason is an aggravating mystery. We live in a judgmental world where every little characteristic, from name to skin color, is taken from an individual and bubble wrapped only to be picked at to the point where they are left like an unprotected package becoming nothing but shattered bits and pieces. School is supposed to be a safe and comfortable environment, and when kids are being ‘picked…